2021 1st Newbie build along challenge

[Zugul]

Gut, thanks for the very usefull advice! I'll surely keep it in mind 

[Yooper Bowyer]

I just straightened the stave with some dry heat and some steam, (the steam worked better) and after it acclimates for a few days I'll get it on the tree.  I'll probably have to do a little more heat correction, but I plan to temper the whole thing later any way.

[Allyn T]

Let's see some pics tradecraft

[Fox]

Yes pics tradecraft!

Also not sure if you know this already, but when you heat treat after you’ve done heat corrections, your Corrections will likely come out.... which is soooo annoying   

Finally got some nice weather today, so I was out tillering my locust. Got it to 20” and am liking how it’s going, still no set...

[Yooper Bowyer]

Haven't heard about that. I'll show you my reflexing rig when I pull it out, it might keep that from happening.

[Allyn T]

Good deal fox, mine has taken set and it's been so cold that even my garage is miserable so I hasn't tillered in days. I haven't been wasting time though, I've been experimenting with home made stain.

[Fox]

oh yeah tradecraft, your right if your clamping it to a caul or something while you heat treat that probably wont happen.


Allyn, just tillered a little more since my last post, all of a sudden 1/2" 0r maybe a little less of set just appeared... so I figured I should stop till morning and see whats goin on.... still only at 20"    what kinds of stains have you been coming up with? id love to here what you figure out... Ive made walnut stain which isn't bad I wish it was darker though,,, going to experiment more with that when the walnuts come back.... Ive also used beat juice a lot on arrows...

[Allyn T]

I tried iron acetate or ferris acetate. It's the solution made when you combine steel and vinegar. It reacts to the tannins in wood. The longer you soak the steel the darker the stain. 12hrs was too light 24 seemed perfect next batch I'll let it go for longer and see how it turns out.

[Black Moshannon]

Let me see the growth rings, I feel like mine isn't the best ratio and I'm wondering what yours looks like

Yes mine are very fine I don't bother messing with em on a hickory like this I just took off the outer bark. Check out the difference between the hickory rings and the black locust tip overlay

[Black Moshannon]

Kenneth, are you going for an ELB style profile with that?

Yes it will bend through the handle. Its going to have a crowned back and flat belly though.  I got the tip overlays on and the bow narrowed to a workable amount, somewhere between 11/4 and 11/2 inches wide, and dried to around 7%. Next will be floor tillering and getting it on the tillering stick

[Allyn T]

Ah yeah Kenneth that is fine ringed as well, looks like a good ratio though. Fox by the way you can use hickory husk as well for stain, it's a dark brown too.

[Fox]

Ah yeah Kenneth that is fine ringed as well, looks like a good ratio though. Fox by the way you can use hickory husk as well for stain, it's a dark brown too.

ohh cool, Allyn, thanks ill have to give that a try aswell...

[Allyn T]

Okay I got it to 50 at 28. I am going to leave it there for now I'm not sure what my draw length is but I'm pretty sure it's longer than that I have to get some arrows first. This is an unbraced picture and then two full draw pictures with an orientated both directions. I hung my hook where the arrow should be so it tips the bow a little bit so it looks crooked let me know what you think.

[Fox]

bit more tillering... getting tricky....
Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr

[Allyn T]

Here is a test of that stain on my bow.